The Golden Boy Blogathon- Sabrina

This entry is for The Golden Boy Blogathon- A William Holden Celebration (click banner to read entries)- and may I begin by saying- I really do love William Holden- he is in my top 5 favorite when it comes to classic Hollywood actors!

AND now that that’s out of system, my choice to celebrate Bill is one of his most popular pictures, Sabrina (1954). Directed by Billy Wilder and also starring Humphrey Bogart and the lovely Audrey Hepburn, this film is as charming as it is enjoyable.

For most of us have probably already seen Sabrina, I’ll just give a brief summary, for those who haven’t David (our dear Bill) and Linus (Bogie) Larrabee are two rich brothers- David is a playboy and Linus is a work-o-holic. They have little in common, until their chauffeur’s daughter, Sabrina (lovely Audrey!) returns from Paris and enchants them both with her new-found elegance and charm.

As I mentioned above, Mr. Holden plays the role of the younger and carefree brother of David. Audrey Hepburn’s character has a crush on him throughout most of the film, and well, who can blame her? We have a blonde Bill Holden here everyone- just look!

Blondie Bill!Oh, Bill! (photo from Bluray.com)

While the two characters clearly had crushes on each other, another romance was brewing behind the scenes, as life began to imitate art. Audrey and Bill began a love affair that would sadly end horribly for both. From Holden’s side- he was a married man- to Ardis Ankerson (Brenda Marshall, stage name). And for Audrey, during this time, through her good friend and Roman Holiday co-star Gregory Peck, she met Mel Ferrer, who would become her first husband.

Sabrina and David… or Audrey and Bill?

However, the real reason why these two were never to be was the issue of children. Bill had a vasectomy and Audrey wanted nothing more than to become a mother and have a family. Once it became known that Bill couldn’t have anymore children, she broke it off, leaving him devastated.

Mel and Audrey were then married in 1954 with their marriage lasting until 1968. She then was married to Andrea Dotti from 1968 – 1982

Mr. Holden, remained married to Ardis until their divorce in 1971 . He never married again, but was the long-term partner of actress Stephanie Powers from 1972 to his death in 1981. However, according to many, Bill always called Audrey the love of his life! (Aww..)

Overall, Sabrina is definitely one of those movies Robert Osborne calls an essential. And it really is- not only for classic Hollywood film, but for all three main cast members as well. And while Bill and Audrey may not have ended up together in real life (spoiler for those who haven’t seen- or on film :-‘( ) but the time they did share together was certainly “magical”, as Bill put it! (NOTE- We Agree Bill! We Agree!! 😉 Very Magical Indeed)

Finally just for Fun here’s the tweet I sent out during the Valentine’s Day 2016 airing of Sabrina on TCM- it certainly speaks for itself, as TCM retweeted it!

8 thoughts on “The Golden Boy Blogathon- Sabrina”

Ahah I both love and hate Bill in this film! I want to be angry at him, but when he smiles I just can’t because he’s too adorable!! Thanks so much for your article, it was a real enjoyment! And thanks to your participation to the blogathon! 🙂

I totally agree with your comment Virginie….Yes he played a real cad and one that you wanted to have a bit of a mishap(apart from the glass splinters in his backside) but when he smiled that was it. That smile was a deadly weapon and boy he knew how to aim it!!! I really enjoyed the movie….it was light hearted and harmless.

@Ginnie and @Juliet I agree with you both! If any other actor would have played David- it could have been a forgettable part and we would have really hated him- but because Its Mr Holden in the part of course we love him- even as a spoiled rich jerk- it just proves the smile owned by William Holden is a force to be reckon with and it makes woman swoon- even today!!!!

Born yesterday 1950- bill in glasses is hot! Also sunset blvd- obivious reasons and also the country girl- stalag 17 is great!!! Have fun discovering Bill- oh almost forgot Apartment for Peggy- awesome and terribly under-rated

I thought Audrey and Bill had a love affair while making Paris When it Sizzles? Am I wrong, not on Sabrina. Oh, and can I just say that Bogie was so handsome in this film, I would absolutely go walking in the rain with him in Paris, a very proper rain. Flapper dame, you and I have the same taste in movie stars, the perfect taste! Love you site.